DJ 3rd Degree’s Fire Pick of the WeekWeek of July 23, 2018Lots of new music coming out this summer! Thanks for continuing to support indie rap music and the Rap Attack DJ’s.What’s good Hip-Hop brothers and sisters? Hope the summer is treating you all well! We here at RapAttackLives.com strive to bring music to your attention that you may not know about, either because it’s not been fully released or doesn’t get much, or any, radio play. This week we have a brand new joint from one of our favorite MC’s!Redman aka Reggie Noble is back!!! Dropping a new album soon (Muddy Waters Too set to release in 2019), the first single released is a joint named “I Love Hip-Hop” (Riveting Entertainment Group). This boom-bap inspired joint will for sure leave you wanting more.Produced by Vinyl Frontiers, Redman is back to his usual mic-crushing self. The drums slapping on the speakers are a perfect base for Redman to run all of the sucka rappers out of the game. His chorus is taken from Cypress Hill’s “Hand On The Pump” and Red also shouts out B-Real right off the top in verse 1.Of course Redman is spitting about the things he loves, weed and Hip-Hop! This one will for sure make your head nod.You’ll also hear it on my show, The Coast to Coast Hip Hop Mix Show, which airs every Sunday at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific on ScratchVisionRadio!

Go grab it if you can. If you need it, DJ’s, let us know! We got ya!!!Til next week . . .Peace!!DJ 3rd Degree

Timid is BACK with Q-Unique & “Who's To Blame” single.We caught Timid in Japan hangin' out with Joey Slick & his Joint One radio crew!

Sorrowful to share that our Music Industry Brother LEE CADENA - former Rap Editor of Urban Network Magazine, host of radio's top rated syndicated "Lowrider Oldies Show" and one-time manager of Teena Marie, Tata Vega and Taja Sevelle (to name a few) - passed away at his home in hospice with his wife and two sons by his side. Memorial arrangements here in Southern California are forthcoming.

Everyone in this pic has contributed their time to record drops (messages) for my upcoming anniversary show. Thank you! to all for your time helping me with this project. In addition to those who were tagged, the following artists have also recorded messages for the show: MC Craig G, DJ Doo Wop, DJ Toast, DMC, Dondi, Dres, Emily Perry, Guilty Simpson, Kutmasta Kurt, Mad Skillz, MC Brainpower, MC Whiteowl, Percee P, RaakaIriscience, Masa4TheRaza Podcast, Rock Mecca, Slug, Verbal Kent, & Zion I.So who's next? If you're an artist (Hip Hop or Freestyle) or a model that has appeared on my show, or maybe just a regular listener, you're welcome to call & record a congratulation message that will be played on air during the anniversary shows in September. (831-783-5817)

Props to DJ Abel aka James Mitchell from Evergreen State College for putting together a great documentary,"The State of Hip Hop - Exploration of NW Hip Hop."This doc features interviews with: Nasty-Nes, Wojack (emcee), DJ Shmix (DJ), King Khazm (206 Zulu), DNAK (graffiti artist) and J-Spoon (b-boy). Watch on our vid page

Proud of my Bay Area homegirl and mare', Rowbot! I've watched her come up from San Jose's KSJS as a RAP ATTACK DJ reporter and now blessing the entire Yay area on 106 KMEL — that's BIG! PinayPride4Life

Arman, Jayson (The High Children), Nasty-Nes, Robbie Rob (The High Children), Dirty Harry (Studio 110.live & The High Children), D-Tragic (KCSB-CA), DJ 3rd Degree (Coast2Coast Hip Hop show & The High Children), Peter (The High Children), Danny Dohrmann (The High Children) & Jamal (The High Children)

I made a decision to stop smoking & stop doing drugs on April 14, 2004 — that was 14 years ago. I can never forget that day. Huge thanks to Suspens who drove me to the hospital as I was having a mild heart attack. Cigarettes, smoking meth, snorting — it will all catch up to you. I'm blessed to have survived and if you can relate, I hope you will survive too. I hope you get my message. Make your decision. No matter what your situation, help is available. I’m living proof. Nasty-Nes

WHO'S LEGIT TO HIRE TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC TO RADIO?by DJ AdditionHere are some tips and suggestions when looking for the right kind of promoter for you. What are the key, definable attributes that matter most?

Networking skillsOne of the most impressive elements of a good radio promoter is how well they can network. Experience is a key factor.

Check their reputationLook around online at what other artists make of them. Search their name on social media and Google. Look for reviews on places like Linkedin. Having no reputation is often as bad as having a bad reputation.

You should hire the one that comes across from more than one source as a good, stand-up person. You don’t want to hire a promoter who lacks moral fiber.

Project updatesDo they give you analysis on feedback, actual playlists and charts, listening details, etc? If not, why not? It’s a major factor in your business.

ReceptionOne of the most annoying attributes of a radio promoter is when they don’t pick up the phone. Try and call a few promoters. See how fast they respond. Do they respond at all? Are they are slow getting back to you when you are paying them? That’s a definite warning sign that you might want to look elsewhere.

A good promoter will latch on like a piranha when you give them the chance to work. If they are slowly taking the work on with the promise of payment, think how slow they will be when they have your money.

Don’t put yourself in this awkward position. Instead, look for a radio promoter that you know can be trusted.

The above points are major factors, but the last one is something you should think of when making any new connection. How well do you get on? Is there a rapport and a general connection? And most important — is there trust?

DJ 3rd Degree’s Fire Pick of the WeekWeek of August 13, 2018Lots of new music coming out this summer! Thanks for continuing to support indie rap music and the Rap Attack DJ’s. Here at RapAttackLives.com, we strive to bring music to your attention that you may not know about because it’s not been fully released or doesn’t get much, if any, radio play. Hey everyone! Been out of the loop for a minute, traveling north to Seattle, WA to perform with my crew, The High Children. Check out the website for pix of me and Nes having some fun while working!This week we bring you Atmosphere (Slug & Ant), something brand new from that duo out of Minneapolis, MN. “Make It All Better Again” (Rhymesayers Ent.) opens with a beautiful guitar piece right out of the Beatles catalog. Then the drums kick, blending into this beautiful sonic piece produced by Ant. Slug the MC tells tales of entangled hope and dismay, like our complicated lives seem to be. They will be out on tour so go check out their site, or Rhymesayers site, to grab some tickets and enjoy this duo’s dope music. I’ve seen them and they put on a fresh performance. With over ten albums under their belts, they have plenty to give you!Go grab it if you can. If you need it, DJ’s, let us know! We got ya!!!Til next week . . .Peace!!DJ 3rd Degree

DJ 3rd Degree & I were guest panelists on a recent “Beat Masters” producers’ panel held in Seattle, WA. We joined big names like araabMUZIK, Eric G, Vitamin D & Will Jordan. These producers have a lot in common under their belts — Grammy nominations and artists like 50 Cent, Nickie Minaj, Mobb Deep, Sean Price & more! It was an honor to be there amongst the greats.

REMEMBER RED ANT & MCA RECORDS?But do you remember Ty-C from Red Ant & MCA Records? He's been living in Holland with his wife & kids. In 1998, the very first article I wrote in HITSMagazine was about Ty-C, then an up & coming promotions man. Guess what? He did great & blew up — I'm so proud of him! I recently caught up with my pinoy bro. Ty will be reppin' StreetKrush. More to be announced SOON!

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DJ 3rd Degree’s Fire Pick of the WeekWeek of August 20, 2018Lots of new music coming out this summer! Thanks for continuing to support indie rap music and the Rap Attack DJ’s. Here at RapAttackLives.com, we strive to bring music to your attention that you may not know about because it’s not been fully released or doesn’t get much, if any, radio play. Hey everyone! Been out of the loop for a minute, traveling north to Seattle to perform with my crew, The High Children. Check out the website for pix of me and Nes having some fun while working!This week’s pick is brought to us by CL from Digiwaxx! If you don’t know, you should know who CL and Digiwaxx are!!!Off Them Hellas/Republic Records, Duckwrth drops a new single titled “Fall Back”. Produced by Charles Jordan and Two Fresh, the track starts with some ear-shattering 808’s that are sure to rattle your speakers. With an L.A.-90’s-style rhyme flow, Duckwrth dips in on the beat, riding it while you bounce your head! About 1:54 into this beat banger, the music stops and Duck asks if it ends that way, then it comes in with this smooth vocal part before hitting you back with that “Fall Back” chant and 808 bass! This song is one that the clubs and rides will bounce to!Go grab it if you can. If you need it, DJ’s, let us know! We got ya!!!Til next week . . .Peace!!DJ 3rd Degree

SHOUT OUT TIZIMEHappy Birthday!

to Damien "DJ Mr. Groove" Rodriguez in Denver, celebrating this Wednesday, August 22.

(R.I.P. 8/22/16)to my BFF Mogwai."It's been 2 years since my pet passed away &not a day goes by when I don't think about you Mugs."

DJ 3rd Degree’s Fire Pick of the WeekWeek of August 20, 2018Lots of new music coming out this summer! Thanks for continuing to support indie rap music and the Rap Attack DJ’s. Here at RapAttackLives.com, we strive to bring music to your attention that you may not know about because it’s not been fully released or doesn’t get much, if any, radio play. The United States has been going thru a transition period in recent years, moving from a no-you-can’t-smoke-marijuana-cause-it-is-illegal, to a somewhat more accepting society who says yes-you-can-smoke. All three west coast states, plus Nevada and Colorado, have made marijuana legal for recreational usage. In hip-hop culture, marijuana has been a mainstay for a long time. Artists like Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill, for example, have led the charge for legalization. This week’s fire pick continues to deliver that message.Our friends from Seattle, aka The High Children, are back this week. Jayson (aka Binary) and Jamal (aka Mr. E) are carrying that marijuana leaf flag really high (no pun intended). They just dropped a brand new single titled “420 Ohh”, and it is a dope cut!Produced by THC, the cut starts with the legendary NASA space countdown but when they're at 4, it skips 3, goes to 2, then 0, then right into some tight scratches and a cool horn riff layered over some boom bap drums. Straight up Hip Hop is all over this track, from the boys’ super tight flow to the smooth beat banging behind them. This is another winner from the crew that already brought us #1 hits like “I Feel”, “Underground DJ’s” and “It’s Amazing”. Stay tuned for more incredible hits from The High Children!Go grab it if you can. If you need it, DJ’s, let us know! We got ya!!!Til next week . . .Peace!!DJ 3rd Degree

REMEMBER RED ANT & MCA RECORDS?But do you remember Ty-C from Red Ant & MCA Records? He's been living in Holland with his wife & kids. In 1998, the very first article I wrote in HITSMagazine was about Ty-C, then an up & coming promotions man. Guess what? He did great & blew up — I'm so proud of him! I recently caught up with my pinoy bro. Ty will be reppin' StreetKrush. More to be announced SOON!